Panama Canal Cruise Specials

Ireland's Ashford Castle 'Proposal Package'

January 01, 2012|By PHIL MARTY, Special to Tribune Newspapers, The Hartford Courant

Here are some of the more interesting deals, websites and other travel tidbits that came across our desk recently:

>>>If you're looking to pop the question to your loved one in an unusual way, Ireland's historic Ashford Castle has a three-night "Proposal Package" that culminates with Dingle, the castle's resident owl, delivering the engagement ring. The package, which also includes champagne, a couples massage, a candlelit dinner, boat ride and falconry lesson, is priced from about $1,940. 800-346-7007; tinyurl.com/d2yeqxg

>>>The Online Vacation Center has an 11-night "Scandinavia/Fjords Package" that includes round-trip air from New York, two nights' lodging in Copenhagen and a nine- night cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line with port stops in Warnemunde (Berlin), Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki and Stockholm. Prices start at $1,999 per person, double occupancy, not including taxes and fees. Air add-on from Chicago is $300. 800-329-9002; tinyurl.com/cxr87g2

>>>Watch two stages of the Tour de France from roadside, then bike one stage 24 hours after the pros with the eight-day "Tour de France Special" from the Adventure Center, priced at $1,540 per person. 800-228-8747; tinyurl.com/ceqg9yq

>>>You can spend two nights each in Rome, Florence and Venice with the "Presenting Italy" package from Air France Holidays. Pricing, including round-trip air from New York, starts at $999 per person, double occupancy. Taxes and fees are extra, and air add-ons are available from Chicago and a variety of other locations. 800-237-2623; tinyurl.com/c5vang7

>>>CruiseBrothers.com has 10- and 14-night Panama Canal cruises on Princess Cruises in January and February as low as $1,199 per person, double occupancy. Taxes and fees are extra. 800-827-7779; tinyurl.com/863rfyc

>>>Expedia Cruise Ship Centers has a three-night, one-way cruise from Miami to Colon, Panama, on Royal Caribbean International Nov. 21 from $148 per person, double occupancy. Taxes and fees are extra. 877-781-7447; tinyurl.com/clau6af